It seems that further to the recent decisions in Green & Ors v SGI Legal LLP [2017] EWHC B27 (Costs)and Parvez v Mooney Everett Solicitors Ltd [2018] EWHC 62 (QB) that Courts were leaning towards a welcome obstruction to the unscrupulous influx of challenges we are seeing in the costs world by previous clients of a firm of…
A celebrity has made it into costs news once again, though for me it would take royalty to beat the legendary status of Brian May. This time we look at a media claim involving Oscar-nominated film director Michael Radford, perhaps most famous for the 1984 movie titled “1984” starring John Hurt and Richard Burton. Mr…
Whilst it is long been established that a Part 36 offer of 100% is not considered a genuine attempt to settle for the purpose of obtaining advantages following the expiry of the relevant period of a Part 36 offer, the position in respect of some other liability offers is not always straightforward. The issue came…
The case of Whaleys (Bradford) Ltd v Bennett and another [2017] EWCA Civ 2143 was an appeal by the Claimant against an order for costs to be assessed on the standard basis in relation to three scheduled oral examination hearings within enforcement proceedings. The appeal was allowed as it was held that the conduct of the Defendants…
A costs judge has endorsed a firm’s decision to switch funding arrangements less than two weeks before a trial date in a commercial dispute and allowed it to claim higher costs on the new deal. Master James, sitting in the Senior Courts Costs Office in Dial Partners LLP & Anor v Eastern Airways International Ltd &…
What happens if a client receives a Statute Bill? And we aren’t talking the usually “delivery” of said Bill, but rather when the client has come into possession of the Bill by some other means? That is precisely what happened in the case of Parvez v Mooney Everett Solicitors Ltd [2018] EWHC 62 (QB). The…
Sharp v Blank and others [2017] EWHC 3390 (Ch) In Sharp v Blank and others [2017] EWHC 3390 (Ch) Chief Master Marsh provided some helpful guidance on revising cost budgets and what constitutes a “significant development”. Approximately 5,800 Claimants are bringing an action against former directors of TSB and Lloyds. The Trial is underway having commenced on…
Bates & Ors v Post Office Limited A High Court Judge has warned the two parties in a group litigation action that “a fundamental change in attitude…is required” and that continued refusal to co-operate would lead to “draconian costs orders”. The matter of Bates & Ors v Post Office Limited is of over 500 mostly sub-postmasters who are pursuing…
Mr Neville Cross v Black Bull (Doncaster) Limited Background The Appeal Judgement was handed down in the case of Mr Neville Cross v Black Bull (Doncaster) Limited on 20th December 2017. The case at first instance concerned a claim for personal injury brought by the Claimant. At the time of issue of proceedings, the case was valued at £10,000 but…
Hanley v JC & A Solicitors Ltd [2017] EWHC B28 (Costs) (19 December 2017) The Judiciary’s concern in “opening the floodgates” for considerable satellite litigation, if they rule that Solicitors can be Ordered to hand over their complete file in circumstances such as these Background This decision of the High Court follows in quick succession,…